Plastics 101

Once a completely natural product, much of today's plastic is man-made and largely dependent upon fossil fuels. From polymers to nurdles, learn how plastic is created and what we can do to slow the lasting repercussions this material will have on both our planet and our lives.

Plastics have become such an entrenched part of our lives. But what exactly is plastic, and how is it made?

Before plastic became so ubiquitous, it underwent a transformation from being a strictly natural product to being synthetically -- and widely -- produced.

Some of the earliest uses of plastic date as far back as 3500 years ago, when the Olmecs of Mexico used naturally occurring plastics, sap from gum trees, to create rubber balls.

During the mid-19th and -20th centuries, synthetic plastics like celluloid and Bakelite made their debut and were used for decades.

On the molecular level, plastics are made of polymers, which are long, flexible chains of chemical compounds.

This structure allows plastics to be easily molded and shaped, especially under heat and pressure.

Unlike the rubber used by the Olmecs, most of today’s plastics are man-made and derived from fossil fuels.

Crude oil and natural gas are primary sources, as they provide a cheap alternative to plastic made from plants.

The first step in the production of plastic is the extraction of crude oil and natural gas from the ground.

From there, the fossil fuels are sent to refineries, where they are converted into several products, including the building blocks of plastic: ethane (from crude oil) and propane (from natural gas).

Ethane and propane are then sent to a cracker plant to be “cracked” or broken down into smaller molecules. Ethane produces ethylene, and propane becomes propylene.

Next, a catalyst is mixed in, which links the molecules together and forms polymers called “resins”.

This structure allows plastics to be easily molded and shaped, especially under heat and pressure.

Polymerization converts ethylene into the resin polyethylene and propylene into polypropylene.

These resins are then melted, cooled down, and chopped up into pre-production plastic pellets known as “nurdles”. Nurdles are later transported to manufacturers, who use heat to mold the nurdles into different types of plastic products.

Many of those products actually feature information about their manufacturing process. Numbers called Resin Identification Codes are often featured, indicating which chemicals were used to make the plastic.

Because of plastic’s utility, its global production has doubled about every decade.

The amount of plastics produced since 1950 has measured at about 9.2 billion tons -- the weight of nearly 1,600 Great Pyramids of Giza.

Much of this plastic ends up as trash.

Single-use plastics, such as straws, grocery bags, and packaging products, are particularly detrimental. They often aren’t recycled and constitute about 40% of all plastic waste. They end up damaging natural habitats, endangering wildlife, and polluting communities around the world.

Moving forward, a great way we can counter this plastic pollution is to reduce the amount of single-use plastics we use.

By opting instead for reusable alternatives in our day-to-day lives, each person can make a huge impact in helping decrease plastic waste.

For plastics that are already produced, other solutions are being explored.

Scientists have discovered that a few organisms are capable of breaking down plastic material.

Wax worms and mealworms, for example, can devour plastics and turn them into compost.

Another plastic-consuming organism is a microbe, which shrinks the time plastic takes to degrade from hundreds of years to only a few days.

Change is happening in the production of plastics, as well, with some manufacturers turning back to plants for ingredients.

Called “biodegradable bioplastics”, these materials are as durable as synthetic plastics, come from renewable resources, and can therefore biodegrade.

Even the rubber tree, the same plant used by the Olmecs, is once again being sourced for plastic.

Today, the tree’s latex is use to create a range of products, such as all-natural latex rubber gloves, tires, and mattresses.

The rubber tree itself is now part of a global initiative for the natural and sustainable sourcing of plastic.

Plastics can be found almost anywhere.

But by understanding its chemical makeup and our uses for it, we can benefit from its versatility while also being mindful of its impact on our planet.

Plastics 101

Once a completely natural product, much of today's plastic is man-made and largely dependent upon fossil fuels. From polymers to nurdles, learn how plastic is created and what we can do to slow the lasting repercussions this material will have on both our planet and our lives.